Chapter Sixty-Four: Deep Affection
After Xin Gan finished eating, Cheng Jiu took care of the rest. The girl had a small appetite; she left half her soy milk untouched, but he didn’t mind. Just like that time at the noodle shop in Beiyu, he finished what she left behind.
Cheng Jiu had always forbidden her from wasting food. If she truly couldn’t eat any more, he never made a fuss; he simply dealt with it himself.
Xin Gan was still dressed in the same outfit from the previous night. She hadn't changed, and though it didn’t smell, it was uncomfortable. Sitting in Cheng Jiu’s car on the way home, she couldn’t help but lower her head and sniff her sleeve.
Fortunately, there was no unpleasant odor—still a faint fragrance lingered. She was relieved that he’d sat so close earlier; it wasn’t a problem.
If she weren’t a little moved by him, why would she care so much about how she appeared in front of him? Xin Gan bit her lip, briefly lost in thought.
Cheng Jiu drove at a leisurely pace, even taking a call along the way. He put it on speaker since he was driving and the traffic was heavy, making it inconvenient to hold the phone.
It was He Chuan on the line, asking, “Where are you? Back in Beiyu?”
Cheng Jiu replied, “No, my flight changed. I’ll leave tonight.”
“Huihui is at my place now. Last night she ran out to call you, but couldn’t get through, so she called me. It was too late to send her home, so I took her back to my place for the night. If you’re not leaving until tonight, come by and pick her up from my place. I have to go to the airport in a couple of hours for a business trip.”
Cheng Hui had grown up under He Chuan’s watchful eye. Over the years, He Chuan had treated her like his own sister, and when Cheng Jiu wasn’t around, she relied on him the most.
Cheng Jiu said, “I’ll head over to pick her up soon.”
“Alright. By the way, about last night—please apologize to Miss Xin for me.”
At the mention of Xin Gan, she instinctively glanced at Cheng Jiu, and he looked over too. Their eyes met; after a few seconds, she looked away first.
Cheng Jiu replied, “It’s fine.”
After all, He Cheng was He Chuan’s own brother. No matter how heartless he might seem, Cheng Jiu couldn’t really hand He Cheng over to the authorities. What happened last night was enough to keep He Cheng at the police station for a few days. Cheng Jiu had done He Chuan a favor, and He Chuan owed him for that.
Perhaps because the call was on speaker, there were words Cheng Jiu couldn’t say openly. He hung up after a few more sentences.
“Are you going to pick up Cheng Hui?” Xin Gan asked.
“Yes,” Cheng Jiu replied. “She went to He Chuan’s house.”
“Why don’t you pick her up first? Just drop me at the intersection ahead; I can get home by myself. It’s not far from here.”
“Are you worried about Cheng Hui, or are you just eager to get away from me?” Cheng Jiu asked.
“That’s not what I meant,” Xin Gan protested.
“No?” Cheng Jiu glanced at her, a smile lifting his lips, though his eyes betrayed no warmth. Xin Gan felt uneasy.
After a moment, he asked, “Anything you need to do later?”
“No, nothing really.”
“Aren’t you starting work?”
“I don’t officially start until next Monday.”
“Oh? What will you be doing?”
“Drawing.”
“Drawing?” He sounded puzzled.
She explained, “Yes, I majored in industrial design. Basically, I work with art.”
There were many directions in the field of art, and Cheng Jiu knew nothing about it. Asking didn’t really help; all he gathered was that she studied painting.
Suddenly, something occurred to him and he joked, “That old saying really is true.”
“What saying?” she asked.
“People who study art are quite individualistic.” Especially the one beside him. Of course, this comment had another layer: they were hard to handle. He continued, “If you’re free, come with me to pick up Cheng Hui from He Chuan’s place.”
Wouldn’t that be inconvenient?
“Not at all,” Cheng Jiu replied. “She likes you a lot.” The light turned red, and the wait was long. Cheng Jiu turned to her, fixing her with a steady gaze as he said, word by word, “So do I.”
Xin Gan was speechless.
It wasn’t as if she’d never been confessed to before, but she’d never encountered such a straightforward approach as Cheng Jiu’s.
She had to admit that she was genuinely moved by him. She thought she wouldn’t be, but by the time she realized it, it was already too late. She’d fallen for him long ago, just unwilling to admit it.
The most frightening thing isn’t a whirlwind romance, but a silent, gentle infiltration.
She’d guarded her heart closely, but in the end, he’d breached her defenses with ease.
When the light turned green and the car moved forward, Xin Gan gripped the leather seat tightly, tense and lost.
She didn’t know how to respond, so she pretended not to have heard, giving no direct answer.
Cheng Jiu didn’t press her for a reply, either. He gave her time to adjust; he’d already made his feelings clear. He wanted her to understand his intentions.
When they arrived at He Chuan’s building, Xin Gan waited in the car while Cheng Jiu went upstairs.
Cheng Hui obediently followed him out. Before leaving, she waved goodbye to He Chuan, who didn’t even look at her. He was delighted to finally send away this little troublemaker.
Back in the car, spotting Xin Gan, Cheng Hui greeted her enthusiastically, and Xin Gan responded. But as soon as Cheng Jiu got in, the atmosphere darkened, his expression severe. Noticing this, Cheng Hui shrank back, not daring to speak.
Xin Gan thought he must be establishing authority in front of his sister; it was a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor. She found this awkwardly amusing and couldn’t help but silently smile.
Cheng Hui eventually couldn’t stand the silence. “Brother, wasn’t your flight today? I thought you’d already left. I called you last night, but you didn’t answer. I wanted to see you one last time.”
“You’re just eager for me to leave sooner, one last time indeed.”
“Don’t twist my words. I don’t think that way at all. You’re my only brother. Mom and Dad are getting old and can’t keep up with me. In the future, only you can look after me.” She grinned mischievously, emboldened by his tone, which wasn’t truly angry.
Cheng Jiu curled his lip in disdain at her nonsense.
Cheng Hui’s eyes shifted to Xin Gan. “Sister Xin, I heard from my mom that you studied in London. How many years did you live there? Was it fun? I’ve never been. Can you tell me about it?”
Cheng Hui was a chatterbox; once she started, she couldn’t stop. The whole way home, she peppered Xin Gan with questions. Xin Gan, patient and good-tempered, answered them, but when it came to her own affairs, she kept her replies brief.
Cheng Hui even asked if any boys had pursued her abroad. Xin Gan admitted there were, but she hadn’t accepted anyone.
Cheng Hui teased, “Was it because of my brother that you turned them all down?”
Xin Gan replied, “I didn’t know Cheng Jiu back then, so it wasn’t because of him.”
“Then why?”
“Because I hadn’t met anyone who moved me.”
“And now?”
Xin Gan said softly, “I suppose now I have.”
Cheng Hui exaggeratedly gasped and winked at Cheng Jiu.
He didn’t respond, still maintaining his elder brother’s solemnity.
When they reached the Cheng family’s gate, Cheng Jiu parked by the roadside. Cheng Hui refused to get out, stubbornly asking, “Brother, are you really sending Sister Xin home? You’re not keeping her here?”
“Enough talk. Go inside.”
“Don’t be so fierce with me. If you’re so tough, try talking to Sister Xin that way! Is that all you can do, bully me but not her?”
Cheng Jiu simply unbuckled his seatbelt, got out, opened the back door, and effortlessly lifted Cheng Hui out, setting her on the curb. “Inside.”
“What about you? Will you come back after taking Sister Xin home?” She dusted herself off, mumbling, “You’re always so mean to me. Even He Chuan’s better—he never yells at me, even if he finds me annoying.”
Cheng Hui had grown up a lot; she was taller and still as cute as ever, though perhaps too lively. Cheng Jiu sighed, patted her head, and softened his tone. “Enough. Be good, go inside.”
For once, he didn’t seem so aloof. Cheng Hui’s eyes reddened. “Brother, I really miss you. I just want to spend a little more time with you. Don’t be so harsh. I barely see you, you’re always so busy. Even when I call, you’re never free.”
Cheng Jiu’s heart softened. She was his own sister, after all. He comforted her a bit, waited until she went inside, then got back in the car.
Xin Gan saw that Cheng Hui seemed to be wiping tears as she walked away. “Was Cheng Hui crying?”
“Yes,” Cheng Jiu replied, as he turned the car around.
“How old is she now?” Xin Gan asked.
“Eighteen,” Cheng Jiu said. “Just finished the college entrance exam. I’m not sure if she’ll get in with her grades.”
“She’s not doing well in school?”
“No, not really. She studies art, and that’s all she’s decent at. Her other subjects are a mess.”
Xin Gan scratched her head. “I’m not familiar with the system here. I took the exams abroad, it’s different. I never really looked into it.”
Cheng Jiu called her name, “Xin Gan.”
“Yes?” She turned to look at his profile.
“Why did your family send you abroad when you were so young?”
“It was my grandfather’s idea.”
“Why?”
“My father went through the same thing. I have no siblings. My grandfather once said that if they were all gone one day, I’d be alone, and he worried I wouldn't be able to handle life’s hardships. So he wanted to toughen me up from a young age and sent me overseas to study.”
She’d been sent abroad at thirteen.
It wasn’t just because her family could afford it; it was purely her grandfather’s educational philosophy.
Cheng Jiu glanced at her calmly. “Weren’t you scared back then?”
Of course she was. How could she not be? She cried every day during that period, but she still had to go to class and study. Only when she hid under the covers and cried at night did she feel any relief.
Thinking back, it hadn’t been easy, even though it was all in the past. That was just her temperament; some memories don’t fade, but instead become clearer with age.
Head bowed, she said, “I was scared, but it didn’t help.”
Her eyes were swollen from crying, but the next day she still had to go to class and take exams.
Cheng Jiu was silent for a while, staring straight ahead. At last he said, “Xin Gan, I might not be able to take care of you all the time, but I can promise you this: I won’t let you down, I won’t abandon you. As long as it’s legal and reasonable, I’ll protect you and meet your needs, no matter what happens.”
“Back in Beiyu, I spoke to you with a bad attitude, and I apologize for that.”
His voice was low and resonant. “Xin Gan, I’m thirty this year. I have no ulterior motives, no desire for meaningless entanglements. You can trust me; don’t be afraid of the future. I swear on my honor: if you become my wife, I will love you with my life.”
He was sincere, every word meant for her.
Even in admitting his faults, he was open and straightforward. He didn’t think it was shameful to apologize to a woman—he really had been harsh with her, even scolded her in front of Xiaoshi and the others.
Xin Gan had never forgotten that moment. She’d never been so humiliated, being scolded in front of so many people. She’d truly been hurt and angry, but after calming down, she realized it wasn’t such a big deal and chose to let it go.
But as she’d said earlier, just because something is past doesn’t mean it’s over—you only pretend it never happened.
She was flustered. Cheng Jiu’s direct confession felt like an invisible net settling over her, leaving her nowhere to run but to face him.
Cheng Jiu drove her home. When they arrived at her door, just as Xin Gan was about to get out, he reached over and held her wrist.
“What do you think about what I just said?”
His palm was warm against her skin, sending her breath into disarray. “But I’m not sure how I feel, Cheng Jiu. I might not be able to handle it.”
Her plan was to emigrate.
If she got involved with him now, all her escape routes would be gone.
She instinctively tried to avoid, to refuse.
Cheng Jiu wasn’t bothered, as if he’d expected her answer. He smiled and said, “I won’t be back on leave until the end of the year. Xin Gan, I’ll give you six months to think it over. Give me your answer at the end of the year.”
“I’ll be waiting for your reply.”
He gave her time to think, room to breathe.
Xin Gan unconsciously let out a breath, her nerves less taut.
Cheng Jiu could see her wavering. Clearly, she had feelings for him, but her words belied them. She had concerns she wasn’t ready to share, and that made her uncertain. He gave her six months, so she could calm down and reflect.
He, too, had matters to settle—he’d only been granted this much time from above.
...
When Xin Gan got home, her mother didn’t question her. Once Xin Gan went upstairs, her mother couldn’t hide her smile. She thought the two were a perfect match: the man handsome, her own daughter beautiful, and the marriage arranged by both families' elders.
Both families were well-matched in every way; it was an ideal union.
...
A little after three in the afternoon, He Chuan arrived at the airport, ready to go through security. Just then, he received a call from Mrs. He. He hadn’t wanted to answer, being in a hurry and about to board, but the phone kept ringing. After a few moments’ hesitation, he picked up.
“He Chuan, come home quickly! Your father is about to kill He Cheng—please, hurry!”
He Chuan exhaled heavily. “Calm down and tell me what happened.”
“After you left last night, your father and He Cheng had another argument. He Cheng refused to admit his mistakes and was punished to kneel all night. This morning, your father found photos on He Cheng’s phone and beat him again. This time, He Cheng started coughing up blood…”
He Chuan irritably tugged at his collar and, dragging his suitcase, turned back toward the exit.
“Where are they now? Where’s Dad?”
“Your father is resting in the bedroom—his heart condition flared up from the anger.”
“Have the housekeeper call Dr. Xu, and lock He Cheng in his room. Don’t let him out. If you can’t handle him, have the driver help—tell him I said so.”
Mrs. He was sobbing. “Is it really necessary to go this far? He Cheng is just young and ignorant. If we talk to him, he’ll understand…”
He Chuan gave a cold laugh. “If he had a shred of shame, would it have come to this? Do you remember why we sent him abroad in the first place, Mom?”
That left Mrs. He speechless for a moment. She whispered, “It’s all in the past. Let’s not talk about it.”
“It’s not in the past. If this ever comes out, I won’t even need to do anything—He Cheng will be ruined.”
Mrs. He choked up, pleading, “He Chuan, don’t be like this. He Cheng is your brother. You can’t just abandon him. Your father is furious—only you can help. He’s your brother. Please, for his sake, help him. Don’t turn your back on him.”
He Chuan’s assistant was still waiting outside. When he saw He Chuan striding out, he hurried over. He Chuan handed him the suitcase and said, “Back to the He family.”
The assistant, noticing He Chuan’s dark mood, kept silent and focused on driving.
He Chuan switched the phone to his other hand. “Mom, every time He Cheng causes trouble, you’re too afraid to tell Dad. Every time, you come to me, pleading, reminding me he’s my brother and only I can help him. What did he do in a past life to deserve me as a brother? Am I running a charity?”
But no matter how sarcastic he got, Mrs. He didn’t hear a word. In her heart and eyes, there was only He Cheng. It was as if He Chuan’s only purpose was to clean up his brother’s messes—she only needed him when He Cheng was in trouble.
Unable to retort, Mrs. He just cried and kept pleading, “He Chuan, you’re not the same as He Cheng. He’s still young, doesn’t know any better. As his older brother, you should help him.”
He Chuan was impatient. “Alright, I get it.”
“Please, He Chuan—this will be the last time, I promise.”
The last time?
He Chuan gave a bitter, self-mocking smile. How many ‘last times’ had there been? He hung up, rubbed his temples, and looked thoroughly aggravated.
His phone rang again. Without checking, he answered, his tone harsh. “What now?”
There was a pause on the other end, and Cheng Hui’s cautious voice came through. “I… it’s nothing… He Chuan, it’s me…”
He Chuan immediately collected himself, reining in his irritation. He softened his tone, “Sorry, I thought you were someone else. What’s wrong?”
Cheng Hui sounded a little scared. “He Chuan, what’s wrong? Why are you so fierce?”
“Did I scare you?” He gentled his voice further, speaking tenderly.
“A little, but I know you’re not mad at me. What happened? Can you tell me?”
The assistant glanced at the rearview mirror, noticing his boss working hard to smooth his expression and speaking with extraordinary gentleness to the person on the other end.
He Chuan said, “It’s nothing. What about you? Looking for your brother again? Didn’t he pick you up this morning? Didn’t he go home?”
“No, I’m calling for you.”